It will then be announced to Parliament in order to be passed into legislation.

Prime Minister Theresa May will return to the Commons later in month to inform MPs when she has triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

LONDON — Prime Minister Theresa May has set out the next steps for triggering Article 50 and beginning Britain's exit from the European Union.

May told MPs on Tuesday that the Brexit bill will be signed by the Crown Office in the next few days and then announced to both houses of Parliament in order to officially complete its passage into legislation.

The prime minister added that she would then report back to the House of Commons later in the month to inform MPs once she has officially invoked Article 50.

"It will now proceed to Royal Assent in the coming days so we remain on track with the timetable I set out six months ago," she said.

"And I will return to this house before the end of this month to notify when I have formally triggered Article 50 and begun the process through which Britain will leave the European Union."

May did not confirm the precise date she intends to get Brexit underway but a spokesperson for the prime minister said yesterday that the "end of March" remains their target, with the emphasis on the word "end."

A spokesperson for May confirmed on Tuesday that May would not be attending the celebrations but denied that it was a "snub" to Britain's EU neighbours.

"She had conversations in advance with her fellow leaders. She was clear she wished them well but it was agreed that she wouldn't be attending."

"It is not remotely a snub," they added.

It is now widely expected that Article 50 will be triggered at some point in the week of March 27.

Parliament voted to approve the passage of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill on Monday night after the Lords backed down on two amendments it wanted MPs to add to the historic bill.

One sought to guarantee the residence rights of EU citizens currently in the UK, while the other sought to give parliament a "meaningful vote" on the terms of Brexit at the end of the two-year Article 50 negotiation process.

Scottish independence

Sturgeon said she was likely to call a referendum unless May responded to the government's Scottish Brexit White Paper which calls for the UK government to set out plans for Scotland to stay within the European Single Market.

The White Paper was published at the end of last year but has so far received no response from May.

May was pushed about the delay today by the SNP's leader in Westminster, Angus Robertson.

"Will she pursue a UK wide response or will she plough on regardless even though she knows what the consequences of that will be?" he asked.

May did not answer the question.

However, when asked why May had still failed to respond, a spokesperson for the prime minister said: "The PM has been clear repeatedly that she is looking at the White Paper and she will respond in due course."